Darning-last.



Ueurnn States PATENT BLANOHE C. SHIELLS, OF NEENAH, WISCONSIN.

DARNlNG-LAST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 668,422, dated February 19, 1901.

Application filed October 1, 1900. Serial No. 31,610. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern;

Be it known that I, BLANCHE O. SHIELLS, a citizen of the United States, residing at N eenah, in the county of Winnebago and State of Wisconsin,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Darning-Lasts, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a darning-last that may be used with greater facility for darning than those heretofore commonly employed.

In carrying out my invention I employ a last which is approximately egg-shaped, but which has concavities or recesses formed in it in such manner as to facilitate the darning of different kinds of garments and other articles and the darningof different kinds and sizes of holes. Arecess or concavity is formed in each end of the last, and the edge of each of these recesses is transverse at all points to the major axis of the last. Other recesses are formed in the tapering sides of the body, and the edges of each of these recesses are made to lie in different planes, the opposite side edges which lie transverse to the minor axis of the last being below or within the edges which lie parallel with the minor axis, the advantage of this construction being that the needle may be passed crosswise of the last more conveniently with no liability of piercing the edges or being embedded in the sides of the concavity. The shape of the last is such that there is formed between the recesses two slightly-curved surfaces which facilitate in stretching the material when being darned, and it is also advisable to start the darning on one of these slightly-curved surfaces until one series of parallel threads is formed across the hole, when the hole may be transferred to one of the cavities and the darning completed. The recesses or concavit-ies preferably all vary in diameter, thus adapting the last to avariety of work, and the construction is also such that the darning may be commenced at one point on the last and completed on another part thereof.

My improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan View of a last embodying my invention. Fig. 2 shows a central section therethrough on the line a 0/, of Fig. 1. Fig.

3 is a plan view showing the opposite side of the last to that shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. lis a view of the smaller end of the last.

The last 1, which may be made of wood, paper, or other suitable material, is oval or of a general egg shape. A recess or concavity 3 is formed in the point of the last and a re cess or concavity 2 in the butt-end thereof. Preferably the concavity 2 is of slightlylarger diameter than that of concavity 3.

4 indicates a concavity formed on one of the tapering sides of the last nearest its. buttend. This concavity, it will be observed from an inspection of Figs. 1 and 2, has its opposite side edges, which lie transverse to the minor axis of the last, below the edges which lie parallel with the minoraxis, and thus a depression is formed which enables the needle to be passed through the material from one edge of the hole to the other and through the concavity without coming in contact with the edges of the concavity. I form another concavity 5 on the opposite side of the last similarin all respects to the concavity 4:, but of smaller area. Between the concavities 4 and 5 there are slightly-curved surfaces in the last, which facilitate in stretching the material, and I prefer to start the darning on these slightly-curved surfaces, forminga series of stitches across the hole, after which the hole is transferred to another one of the concavities, and the cross-stitches are there interwoven with the previouslyformed stitches.

The recesses or concavities are quite shallow. They need be but little below their surrounding edges. In darning very small holes it will not be necessary to start the darning on the curved surfaces between the concavities at and 5, as small holes can be conveniently darned in both directions over the concavities; but for larger holes I find it most convenient to start the darning on said curved surfaces, as the material can be better stretched and the edges of the hole or holes better held in place for starting the darning, as above described.

The formation of my improved last is such that holes in various articles may be darned without producing bulges at the point darned,

as a portion of the last of large area may be applied to fiat surfaces to aid in darning, while the smaller surfaces of the last may be curved portions at the butt-end of the body, there being between the said side concavities slightly-curved surfaces tapering from butt to point and also transversely thereto.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name tothis specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' BLANCHE C. SHIELLS.

Witnesses:

CLARA ALBEE, JOHN P, SHIELLs. 

